Chess Puzzle #2KvQ3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1561 · Intermediate · crushing, endgame, long, quiet move.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; bishop f5; pawns a3/b3/c4/e6/f2/g2/h5. Black: king g7; queen e5; rook d8; pawns a6/b6/c5/d6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook d8→f8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qb7+ — queen f3→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
  3. Best move: g4 — pawn g2→g4. Opponent replies Qxe6 (queen e5→e6, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: Bxe6 — bishop f5→e6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Qb7+.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/6k1/pp1pP2p/2p1qBpP/2P5/PP3Q2/5PP1/6K1 b - - 0 44

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.